Category: Kimberly’s Review

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston

TITLE: Wolf With Benefits
SERIES #: Pride #8
CHARACTERS: Ricky & Toni
AUTHOR: Shelly Laurenston
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/26/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks?

Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for…

REVIEW:
This is the 8th is the Pride series and I would definitely say if you have not read the other books this is not the one to start with. While I enjoyed the story of Ricky and Toni (her’s family was fine too) but the rest was just too much. The story is over 400 pages and that to me was 100 or more too many.

Again, having not read the previous books in the Pride series I will say in the beginning I was a little lost on who everyone was and what they did and why they were in the storyline. There were just way too many characters/breeds mentioned (and the hybrids were just overkill). It was really confusing. There is a background story that seems to have continued throughout the series that was again confusing because it did not explain the storyline much in this book to understand why the characters were searching for this person.

Now that being said. I take full responsibility for picking this book from NetGalley without even realizing that it was part of a series because if I had I would not have picked it up especially with it being so far into the series. I can completely understand why someone who has followed the series from book one would enjoy it. I enjoyed it enough to know that with the right information before beginning this book I would have enjoyed it too.

So I leave this review with how I started it. If you have not read the series I wouldn’t start it with this book but if you have read the others in the series you will really enjoy this book.

Disclaimer:

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Grounds To Kill by Wendy Roberts

TITLE: Grounds To Kill
AUTHOR: Wendy Roberts
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/07/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Barista Jen Hanby’s coworkers give her a hard time for bringing coffee and pastries to a homeless man who sits outside her café—but she has a secret. The scruffy man is her father.

She’s also hiding the little matter of why her palm itches. But how can she explain that her hand has a mind of its own and writes messages from the beyond? Right. That’ll get her Employee of the Month.

When she finds herself scrawling your boyfriend is cheating on you! to herself on the bathroom mirror, she immediately dumps the guy. But then his little fling—who just happens to be her half sister—turns up dead, and suddenly Jen’s homeless father is the prime suspect.

Jen knows he is being framed and must take matters into her own hands to protect him. But will anyone believe that the crazy old man is innocent? Or that his spirit-writing daughter holds the truth?

REVIEW:
I don’t know what it was about this story but I could not get into it. The characters were so… umm… cheesy… I guess that is the right word. Maybe too quirky or something. It seemed so juvenile yet it is not a YA read. There are too many “throw ins”.. meaning it had to be thrown in that her boyfriends fling was her half sister. Like just having a fling with a neighbor wasn’t enough? And a bunch of other things. It was just too much to me. It made the book seem childish.

Maybe someone else would enjoy it, and I suggested giving it a try if the synopsis appeals to you, but I just could not get excited about his book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Currant Creek Valley by RaeAnne Thayne

TITLE: Currant Creek Valley
SERIES #: Hope’s Crossing #4
CHARACTERS: Alexandra & Sam
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/26/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon |B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

If you build it, love will come…to Hope’s Crossing. Alexandra McKnight prefers a life of long workdays and short-term relationships, and she’s found it in Hope’s Crossing. A sous chef at the local ski resort, she’s just been offered to Hope’s Crossing. her dream job at an exclusive new restaurant being built in town. But when it comes to designing the kitchen, Alex finds herself getting up close and personal with construction foreman Sam Delgado….

At first glance, Sam seems perfect for Alex. He’s big, tough, gorgeous—and in town for only a few weeks. But when Sam suddenly moves into a house down the road, Alex suspects that the devoted single father of a six-year-old boy wants more from her than she’s willing to give. Now it’s up to Sam to help Alex see that, no matter what happened in her past, together they can build something more meaningful in Hope’s Crossing.

REVIEW:

This is a sweet romance about second chances. Having not read the first three in the series I will say there are a bunch of background characters that make it obvious that there are previous books in the series. Of course once you get to know them it does make it easier but there are a bunch so it does take a while.

I enjoyed Alex and Sam. There might have been a bit too much of the typical “I can’t be with him even though I love him” attitude going on but really it is so sweet that it makes it ok. Ethan is adorable even though having a seven year old I know there is no way in heck a seven year old talks the way his character is written no matter how “special” he is.

If you are looking for a sweet and simple romance to read then this is your book. There is a good storyline, it is written well and the characters worm their way into your heart.

Disclaimer:

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of With This Kiss: Part Three by Eloisa James

TITLE: With The Kiss
SERIES #: Part 3
CHARACTERS: Grace & Colin
AUTHOR: Eloise James
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/26/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lieutenant Colin Barry returns from the wars injured in body and spirit, knowing that he has no right to steal Grace from the arms of her fiancé. Yet the same warrior’s spirit that won so many battles at sea is prompting him to throw proprietary to the winds, imitate his pirate father, and simply take what he most desires!

Author’s Note: Don’t forget to read Parts One and Two! Reading this installment first would be like eating the icing before you even get it onto a cupcake.

REVIEW:
This is the third part in the three part series. This is a nice historic short story. Having not read the main books that these original characters came from I am sure that I did not enjoy it as much as someone who has read these stories have.

I am not sure why this was written into parts instead of one book but since the whole story is just over 100 pages it is fine to have it in the three parts. I think anyone who like historical romance will enjoy this story of a lifetime of love.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Asher’s Dilemma by Coleen Kwan

TITLE: Asher’s Dilemma
AUTHOR: Coleen Kwan
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/07/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ever since he awoke one day on the floor of his workshop with a brain-splitting headache, Asher Quigley has been haunted by fleeting visions of a beautiful woman everywhere he looks—a woman he’s sure he knows, but can’t recall. In spite of this he has finished his most wondrous invention yet, one that will literally make history: a time machine. But before he can complete his exacting calculations a bizarre accident causes the device to be activated, with him inside! He awakes to find himself in his lab, eight months in the past, and suddenly he remembers her…

Asher knows that something in the near future causes Minerva Lambkin, the woman who turned down his marriage proposal, to be erased from existence. And he’s sure it has something to do with his device. Alone in a familiar world where he doesn’t belong, he’ll have to find a way to destroy the time machine to save the woman he loves from extinction. Even if that means erasing his own future.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly NUMBER OF STARS: 3 Stars

REVIEW:
Ok I had a couple of problems.. 1) I never read the first of this series “Asher’s Invention” so I was a little lost on the characters and their history and 2) I didn’t realize this was a Steampunk which I have never really enjoyed. Now with that being said I requested the book so I read it and if I take out the above problems (which are mine not the books) then it is a interesting read.

I was saddened by the end too. So… If you enjoy Steampunk give this book a shot!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of A Dark Desire by Natalie Hancock

TITLE: A Dark Desire
SERIES #: World Of Darkness #1
CHARACTERS: Nikalye & Belia
AUTHOR: Natalie Hancock
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N (no link)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Can the love of a human restore the memories stolen from him before their connected lives kill them both?

When Nikalye wakes in the middle of nowhere, unable to remember even his own name, he has no choice but to trust the only person who remembers him—a human woman—to help him find his way back to the only thing he remembers—a beautiful and deadly warrior—Layla. Despite being attacked by vampires in the past, Belia Garcia Sanchez tries to help Nikalye, feeling as though she owes him after he saved her life. She knows that in order for him to remember what he forgot she needs to help him get back home but doesn’t know how. She lives in the middle of the South Pole and trusts no one to help her. Belia is attacked by vampires again, and after saving her, Nikalye knows he has to get to Layla in order to save Belia and everyone he loves from the danger he can’t see before it’s too late. When he’s reunited with Layla and his memories are restored, a man he thought to be dead makes his appearance. When he threatens Belia and Layla’s life, Nikalye must choose between the two women he loves.
Who will he choose?

REVIEW:
Honestly I am just confused. This is a very short read of about 40 pages and it just was not enough for the reader to understand everything the author was trying to convey. There is too much information thrown in and it just gets confusing. I believe if given another 20 pages to explain some things properly this would have been a good short story. As it is it is just ok.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of With This Kiss: Part Two by Eloisa James

TITLE: With This Kiss
SERIES #: Part 2
CHARACTERS: Grace & Colin
AUTHOR: Eloise James
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/19/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lady Grace Ryburn has accepted another man’s proposal after the love of her life, Lieutenant Colin Barry, asked for her own sister’s hand in marriage.

But when Colin returns home from the wars, injured in body and spirit, will she be able to turn her back and marry another? Or will she throw away every rule her mother taught her and try to seduce a man who has shown no interest in her kisses?

Author’s Note: Be sure to read Part One first! You need to know the story of how Grace fell in love with Colin . .

REVIEW:
This is the second in a three part story. It, like the first, is a short story of about 50 pages. You must read the first to understand the second. I do not think reading the second without the first will have any meaning. And of course there is a final third part that will hopefully wrap the story up nicely.

This is an almost sad love story. This is sort of the ships that pass in the night story and I really can’t wait to read the last part so I know how it ends.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Covert Seduction by Callie Croix

TITLE: Covert Seduction
CHARACTERS: Reid & Becca
AUTHOR: Callie Croix
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Navy SEAL Reid Galvin is back from hell and eager to find comfort in Becca Anderson’s arms. He knows he hurt her when he cut contact during his deployment, so when his call interrupts her date with another man, he has only himself to blame. But he can’t forget what she means to him—or the sexy email she sent him—and he won’t miss this chance to claim her as his own.

It’s been weeks since Becca heard from the man she thought she was involved with. So when Reid wants to take up where they left off as if nothing happened, she refuses. Then he rescues her from a first date gone very wrong, and she realizes she’s not quite ready to let him go.

Reid and Becca have a lot to talk about, but since she’s not listening, he’s going to have to regain her trust another way—by bringing her most erotic fantasies to life. Making her surrender to pleasure just might be his most important mission.

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars This is an enjoyable short story. Reid is a SEAL (aren’t they all?) who was in a relationship with Becca until he was sent on a mission. She did not hear from him for 6 weeks and while they both missed the other there was no communication which caused a problem for Becca. Reid comes home and wants to rekindle the fire. Becca had sent him a erotic love letter and Reid wants to fulfill her desires if Becca will give him the chance.

There is a bit of a romantic suspense in this story but not much. A little bit more would have been nice. I did not consider this erotica. Yes there was some sex scenes showing Reid in control but this is not D/s sex scenes.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of The Valentine’s Arrangement by Kelsie Leverich

TITLE: The Valentine’s Arrangement
SERIES #: Heroes For The Holidays #1
CHARACTERS: Ronnie & Kale
AUTHOR: Kelsie Leverich
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ronnie Clark, an edgy tattoo artist with hopes of high tailing it out of the forsaken Military town she followed her now ex-fiancé to, is counting down the days until Valentine’s Day is over. Ronnie doesn’t do romance. She doesn’t do flowers or dates, and she sure as hell doesn’t do love—not anymore. After her fiancé slept with a female soldier while deployed, she has vowed never to fall in love again, especially with a soldier.

Sergeant First Class Kale Emerson is home on his mid-tour leave from Iraq, but he only has one thing on his mind—returning to his deployment to finish leading his soldiers on their mission. The last thing he wants is a relationship, but casual sex, that’s a different story. And when he meets the renowned tattoo artist Ronnie Clark, a snarky, blunt, takes no prisoners kind of woman, that seems to be all he can think about.

But when Kale realizes he has met his match with a bombshell woman who is hell bent against love, will just sex be enough? And if it’s not, will he be able to convince Ronnie that the proverbial hearts and flowers aren’t so bad after all, even if he is a soldier?

REVIEW:
Did I like this book? I am 50/50 on that answer. I liked the storyline. I thought that Kale was adorable. I couldn’t stand Ronnie. And the language just went overboard.

I am not exactly sure why Kale would be attracted to Ronnie at all. I am not talking about the fact she is tough and independent but the fact that she is rude and crass. She has nothing that makes you want to like her. I just wanted to wash her mouth out with soap. There is not one page that does not have crude language over and over. And while I realize she is trying to prove she is strong she really just proves she is just unappealing.

Now Kale is worth reading about. And the story as I said was really good… well the storyline. It had a lot of potential and Kale would have been a great hero for a story with a woman that the reader actually cared about.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of The Importance Of Being Wicked by Victoria Alexander

TITLE: The Importance Of Being Wicked
SERIES #: Millworth Manor #2
CHARACTERS: Miranda & Win
AUTHOR: Victoria Alexander
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/26/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this dazzling new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander welcomes you to Millworth Manor, a delightful English country estate where love is always perfectly at home…
For Winfield Elliott, Viscount Stillwell, finding a prospective bride always seemed easy. Perhaps too easy. With three broken engagements to his name, Win is the subject of endless gossip. Yet his current mission is quite noble: to hire a company to repair his family’s fire-damaged country house. Nothing disreputable in that—until the firm’s representative turns out to be a very desirable widow.

Lady Miranda Garrett expected a man of Win’s reputation to be flirtatious, even charming. But the awkward truth is that she finds him thoroughly irresistible. While Miranda resides at Millworth to oversee the work, Win occupies her days, her dreams…and soon, her bed. For the first time, the wicked Win has fallen in love. And what began as a scandalous proposition may yet become a very different proposal…

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Victoria Alexander’s for a while now but I don’t think this will be one of my favorites which is weird because I enjoyed the first book and the novella about Win’s engagements so much. The problem was I didn’t feel a connection between Win and Miranda. Win did not seem to be light-hearted man he was in the first 1 ½ books.

While the story was good in general and I think would have been better if we had not met Win before in the previous books. He was such a great background that I was thrilled his story was coming out but maybe I just had my hopes too high for his story.

I didn’t like the way Miranda deceived Win so much either. I know the times were different and women did not work back then but it just seemed there were so many opportunities for her to fess up and she didn’t.

With all that being said no Alexander book is bad. She is a phenomenal author who adds humor to the straight laced historical times. You can never go wrong reading a Alexander novel.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of With This Kiss: Part One by Eloisa James

TITLE: With This Kiss
SERIES #: Part 1
CHARACTERS: Grace & Colin
AUTHOR: Eloise James
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/12/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lady Grace Ryburn, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook, has fallen wildly in love with Colin Barry, a dashing young lieutenant serving his country in the Royal Navy. When he returns home to exuberant celebrations, will he even notice the quiet wallflower he grew up with … or will he fall for Grace’s sparkling, gorgeous sister?

REVIEW:
This is a very short three part story. The first part being only about 50 pages. This is certainly only the beginning of the story. In this story we learn of the love Grace has for Colin and that it has been going on for years.

It is actually kind of a sad story. I feel so sad for Grace. She is living in the shadow of her younger sister. I look forward to reading the next part since this was certainly left unfinished. But it is good and you will want to find out how it happens.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Irresistible Knight by Tierney O’Malley

TITLE: Irresistible Knight
SERIES #: Knight Brothers #2
CHARACTERS: Bors & Taylor
AUTHOR: Tierney O’Malley
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/15/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She’s a rich wary violinist. He’s an FBI agent always hanging out behind alleys and dirty dumpsters. Together, can they make a beautiful symphony or break each other’s heart?

Sleep deprived, Bors Knight thanked his stars when he decided to help the vanilla scented Taylor Monte Carlo cross the street. She’s in need of a place to stay and his ticket to finally nail the man he wants to throw in jail. Not one to let go of a good opportunity, he offers her his newly built home. Taylor, however, has made matters complicated. She occupies his room, covers his windowsill with her rock collection, disturbs his quiet morning with beautiful music, and then… crawls inside his heart.

Taylor wants only one thing—keep her father from ending up in jail. Her problem is solved when she meets the funny and delicious looking hunk Bors whose father happens to be a judge. He offers to share his home, his secret cove, and show her blinding and all-consuming passion she has never known. In a very short time, she has learned to trust Bors with her secrets. All was good until a man holding a gun, Hollywood style, blows his cover—an FBI agent bent on sending her father to jail.

In love, Taylor finds herself between two men she can’t live without. But who should she chose?

REVIEW:
While I was reading the book I was really not sure how I felt about it. I enjoyed the story and the characters but the writing was a little crude. I read the book in one evening and stayed up later than I should have so I did not write the review right away and as I was falling asleep I realized how much I really did enjoy this story. It was very interesting and kept my attention. Bors is a great guy. I loved how alpha and intense he was but yet so loving and playful. I actually missed that I was not going to be reading more about him. Taylor is interesting too. She has the life that some women dream, of living in a mansion with everything she ever wanted but she was a prisoner in the mansion and escaped but not for the reason the reader thinks at first. And she is so cute standing up to Bors. They really are an adorable couple. And Bors family is just too wonderful.

Now the bad part. There is so much crude language that it was distracting. I mean I know a big FBI agent is not going to be running around saying “Oh fudge” but it seemed almost every other word was crude. Even the author must have realized since she wrote a curse jar into the story.

I have not read the first in this series but I will be looking for it and will most certainly pick up the next one. Hmmm I wonder which sibling that book will be about?

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts